Torsion-measuring apparatus.



W. H. KENEBSON. TOBSION- MEASURING APPARATUS. APPLICATION TILED D120. 19, 19011.

Patented June 8, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' 2 r W \\\mm Quantum W. H. KENERSON. TORSION MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.19,1908.

I 924,242. Patented June 8.1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\d/l-rdessss: F, S. /NV5N 70R:

UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. KENERSON, OF PROVIDEN('-E, RHODE ISLAND.

TORSION-MEASURING APPARATUS.

Specification of Lettem Patent.

Patented June 8,- 1:909.

Application filed December 19, 1908. Serial r10. 468,411.

provements in Torsion-Measuring Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improved torsion-measuring ap aratus and means for indicating and recor ing the torsional force or pressure transmitted by and through the apparatus, and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the elements or members thereof, all as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The objects sought to be attained by this invention are to produce an apparatus of the character referred to ossessing a greater de gree of efficiency, an atthe same time being smaller, more accurate and materially less expensive to manufacture than devices of this general type heretofore produced. It may be added that the device is practically frictionless and capable of indicating very slight changes of variations in the torque or moments being measured by the apparatus.

The torsion-measuring means forming the subject of this application for patent is more particularly adapted to be secured or con.- nected to a revoluble power-transmitting shaft so as to automatically indicate or record its torque or pressure; it may, however, be readily employed for indicating static force.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 represents a front end view of my improved torsion-measuring apparatus. Fig. 2 1s a corresponding side elevation, in partial section, showing the device connected to a torsion-indicating gage. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, in reduced scale, showing the apparatus connected to a combined pressuregage and speedometer having movable pointers operatively connected therewith,

' and-.a dial rovided with graduated torsion,

speed and orse-power'scales arranged with relation to the ointers. Fig. 5 is a front view, in enlarged scale, showing the general construction and arrangement of the pressure and speed gages, the dial being removed. Fig. 6 is a further enlarged front view of the graduated dial itself, and also showing the i normal or zero position of the pointers. Fig. l 7 represents a side elevation of the'apparatus connected to a pressure-recording gage. Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View, taken substantially on line 8 8 of Fi 7, and Fig. 9 shows a continuous variab e pressure line or diagram capable of being produced by the recording-gage.

- The following is a more detailed description of my improved torsion-measuring apparatus, indicated on the drawings by A:

The main connecting or flanged coupling to the adjacent ends of the respective revoluble independent shafts s s. In order to positively maintain the coupling members in normal relation to each other longitudinally and thus prevent endwise separation I prefer to employ bolts 0 passing freely through the member a, and tapped into the fellow member b, as clearly shown. The member a, which is represented as being the rimary or main driving element, has a p uralit of evenly spaced radially disposed steel PIIIS d secured to its peri hery or rim. The outer or head portion 0 each pin extends a short distance beyond the rim and is incontinuous contact with the adjacent; edges of a pair of short V-shaped extensions 6 forming one arm of the three-arm lever e pivoted or fuling tapped radially into the rim of the correspondln coupling member I; and located immediate y in the rear of pin d. These pins are disposed parallel with each other, at right angles to and in line withthe longitud-inal axis of the shafts. The levere as shown extends tan entially of the rim and is provided at eac end with a small well-rounded contact-pin e projecting from its rear edge. See Fig. 2. These pins are employed to cooperate with intervening means for equalizing the pressure upon the area of the confined annular diaphragm soon to be described.

On the hub of t e driven or secondary member b and concentric therewith is loosely mounted a suitably su ported annular sattionary diaphragm-hol er- D, the same having a shallow annular-recess or chamber 9 for containing an inert fluid, as oil. The oil chamber is by means of, a small passage or duct 9 and connecting tube 1) in continuous open communication with an, ordinary pressure or torsion-indicating gage, as C, Flg. 2. The chamber 9 of the apparatus may be coninembers, a and b, as represented, are keyed crumed on a steel pin 01" bolt 0", the latter benected to a gage C, Fig. 4, wherein is shown an ordinary hydraulic gage t and a well known type of speedometer 112, each being provided with a pointer. By simply connecting the apparatus A to a suitable ref-ording gage substantially as shown in Fig. 7, the pressure or torque exerted while in ac tion is automatically traced by a pressurecontrolled pencil or marker 29 upon a 1nov-- ing strip of paper 11 mounted on revoluble cylinders p p, the latter say being driven by shaft s through the medium of suitable gearing, as for example a worm and gear and flexible shaft 1), at any desired s eed ratio. The front side or face of said ciaphragnu holder D has an enlarged recess therein arranged concentrically to the chamber 9 adapted to form a seat for the annular metal diaphragm 9. Inner and outer annular nuts, 11., n screwed to the respective walls or sides of the recess serve to removably secure the diaphragm in position, the latter in fact constitutin the frontwall of the oil-chamber g. A laterafily movable annular follower or piston f is fitted and supported between the adjacent walls of said nuts and bears directly and uniformly upon that portion of the diaphra m unsupported by the nuts, all as clear y shown in Fig. 3.

Contiguous to the front and rear faces of the relatively stationary holder D and con centric therewith are located suitably supported annular frames or cages, h M, each carryin a series of antifriction balls exceeding 1n iameter the thickness of the respective cages; The rear cage, 71., is inter )osed between the holder D and a thrust-collar or nut i, screwed or otherwise adjustably secured to the hub of the coupling member 6, theballs themselves of the cage being'in continuous frictional contact with and adapted to move in circular paths of the respective members D and i. A check-nut i is emplo ed for obvious pur oses.

would state that if desired the member D may beprovided with a foot or bracket 11 thereby ada ting the member to be secured to or suspen ed from a fixed base. See Figs. 4 and 7.

A disk-shapedmember In, preferably provided with an overhanging protectin rim k is keyed to the hub of the coupling and is capable of a short longitudinai ,movement thereon. As this devised provision is made so as to compensate for the wear of said balls and the adjacent surfaces of .the members with which they are in contact. The member 11 is located between the back of the couplings flange and the front ball-carrying cage h.

When in action one or the other of the elements a of each of the levers e (according to the direction of rotation of the driving couplin a) is in continuous frictional contact wit the adjacent front face 7: of the disk 7c,

thereby at the same time causing all the balls of the front cage to press uniformly against the face of the pistonf (mounted in the stationary member D), corresponding with the torsional pressure or force exerted in overcoming the work or resistance upon the shaft 8. The displacement of the fluid by the thus acted upon diaphragm is very minute, since the working area is or may be several hundred fold greater than the cross-sectional area of the bent gage-tuber connected therewith. See Fig. 5. The corresffendingmovements of the tube, due to its expansion and contraction, are by suitable movementmultiplying means transmitted to and actuate a pointer or hand 2. arranged with relation to a suitably graduated scale i of a dial t, as indicated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

I make no claim herewith to a pressure-indicating gage. The speedometer m, associated with said gage-tube t, Fig. 5, is a well-known device employed for automatically indicating the speed of rotation of the shaft to which it may be connected. Thedevice as represented is suitably incased and is provided with a vertical revoluble spindle m secured to a flexible shaft m in turn connected to a short shaft drivenby gearin actuated by the shaft s. See Fig. 4. he speedometer mechanism is provided with movement-:

.multiplying means for actuating a pivoted pointer m arranged with relation to a suitably graduated scale m of the dial 23 It may be stated in this connection that a scale H may be com uted and then arranged on I the dial with re ation to the said torsion and speed scales, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to indicate horse-power; the latterdesi nating the power transmitted by and throng the apparatus A, correspondin with variations in the speed and torsional orce "and the ratio of leverage, &Q/., acting upon the fluid in the chamber g thus devised the position of the two pointers where they cross each other on the scale H designates the corresponding horse-power:As for example, the pointers (shown in dotted line position in Fig. 6) indicate that the apparatus is transmittln about 20 H. P., when running at 500 revo utions er minute, the torsional pressure being 200 oot pounds. v

In Figs.- 7 and 8, which represent my improved torsion-measuring apparatus A comined with pressure-recording means, C the latter is provided with a frame or housing having a pair of-l-aterally separated-vertically mounted revoluble cylinders, 11, 1), arranged to carry a continuous strip 29 of suitably ruled aper. The latter is adapted to be reeled s owly from cylinder p onto the felly or driving cylinder p continuous and positive rotation being imparted to it by a flexible shaft actuated b worm and gear mechanism, t e worm itsel be' secured to the power-shaft 8 Thus it is o vious that suitable motion-multiplying means 0 era tively controlled by the movements 0 said tube and being su ported by a stationary standard t. The ree end of said arm carries a pencil or-tracer p adapted to bear lightly upon the ad'ac'ent surface of the traveling paper. The paper may have a continuous straight-ruled line as along its lower edge, indicating zero or line of no pressure. The paper passes across the face of'a vertical idler or guide-roll 1' located between but in front of the said cylinders and adjacent the tracer for obvious purposes. By means of this combination the tracer when in use automatically produces a ermanent continuous 'line or diagram '11) on t e surface, of the moving paper the line thus formed constitutes a record 0 the variations (if any) in the torsional pressure or tor ue. 1 S

It may be added t at in order to prevent undue wear and friction of the parts certain of the continuously contacting members may be made of hardened steel or other suitable material. Theparts thus referred to are the knife-ed es or V-points e, and heads of bolts d, the e ements e and adjacent surface of disk k; the antifrictibnballs carried by the frame In, which bear against the said disk and follower f; and the balls of the rear frame bearing against the rear side of the stationary element 1) and the thrust-collar My improved torsion-measuring apparatus is adapted to be actuated in either direction without any change Whatever in its construction or adjustment; it may be successfully and accurately rotated at a high rate of speed, since all the parts are practically bal-- anced and the friction reduced to a minimum. Moreover, it is simple in construction, small in size and comparatively light in weight, when considered with respect to its ca acity for transmitting high powers.

1le as just stated the device is capable of bemg actuated in either direction as desired, it is also obvious that the member b may be the driving element and the felly member a, the driven element with equal accuracy and efliciency, and without departmg from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Unite States Letters Patent, is:

1. A torsion-measuring apparatus comprising a primary or driving element, a relatively stationary element provided Wlth an -phragm the torsional force exerted,

annular chamber for containing a fluid, an annulus-shaped dlaphragm adapted when in use to be resisted by the fluid in said chamber, means operatively connected with the driving element for transmitting to the diaand means connected with the fluid-holding chamber for designating said force.

2. A torsion-measuring apparatus comprising a primary or driving element, a relatively stationary element provided with an annular chamber for containing a fluid, a relatively stationary annular diaphragm forming a wall of and adapted topress against the fluid in said'chamber, the latter being arranged to connect with means for showing the pressure, and means operatively connected with said driving element A for transmitting to the diaphragm the torsional force exerted by the driving element.

3. A torsion-measuring apparatus comprising a revoluble primary or driving element, a companion or secondary element,

means connectmg said elements whereby the secondary member is ada ted, to be driven by and concurrently wit1 the first-named member, a mounted relatively stationary member provided with a fluid-holding chani ber, a diaphragm mounted in said chambered member so as to press continuously against the fluid, means operatively connected with the driven element for transmitting to the diaphragm the torsional force or pressure exerted by the said primary element, and means connected with the fluid-holding chamber for indicating or designating the said ressure.

4. n a torsion-measuring apparatus, the combination with a pair of revoluble owertransmitting members, and a plura ity of peripherally arranged lever elements connecting said members so as to cause them to move concurrently, of a supported stationary member provided with a fluid-holding chamber and a diaphragm arranged with relation thereto, means connecting said lever elements and diaphragm for imparting the fluid pressures corresponding with the torsional force developedm rotating the power-transmitting members, and means connected with said chamber for showing the pressure;

5. In a torsion-measuring apparatus provided with connected power-transmitting elements, and a mounted non-revoluble fluidopposed diaphragm arranged with relation to said elements, the combination therewith of force developed in transmitting power, and

means connected with the apparatus for automatically recording said power or pressure.

6. In a torsion-measuring apparatus of the character described, the combination with a suitably. mounted fluid-resisted diaphragm,

and pressure-conducting means engaging -therewith, of a pair of driving and driven Corrections in' Letters Patent No. 924,242.

and pressure-conducthig means engaging therewith, of .a pair of dri ving\;, and driven power-transmittingmembers adapte to be secured to the adjacent ends of inde eride t shafts, a plurality of peripherally isposed lever elements pivoted to one of said members and continuously engaging the other member whereby both the members are adapted to move concurrently in a rotative direction, and having each lever element provided with acircumferentially extending arm in continuous contact With said pressureconducting means.

7. In a torsion-measuringapparatus of the character-described, the combination with a suitably mounted fluid-resisted diaphragm,

power-transmitting members adapted to be secured to the adjacent ends of independent shafts, means for preventing endWise separation of said shafts, a plurality of peripherally {disposed lever elements pivoted to one of said members and continuously engaging the othen n e nber whereby both the members are adapte'dtto move concurrently in a rotative direction, and having each lever element provided with a circumferentially extending arm in continuous contact with said pressure-conducting means.

Signed at Providence, R. 1., this 17th day of December 1908.

- WILLIAM H. KENERSON. Witnesses:

GEO. H. REMINGTQN,

It is hereby certified that m Letter LSEALJ HENRY P. STONE.

9 Patent No. 924,242, granted June-8,'1909,

upon the application of William H. Kenerson, of Providence, Rhode Island, for

an improvement in Torsion-Measuring Apparatus, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 26, page 1, the word of should read 01'; line 126, page 2, and line 56,page 3, the word felly should read fellow; and

in line 112, page 3, after the word imparting the word to should be inserted; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this isth a of July, A. 1)., 1909.

o. c. BILLINGS,

Acting C'mnmiaaioner of Patents.

and pressure-conducting means engaging -therewith, of a pair of driving and driven Corrections in' Letters Patent No. 924,242.

and pressure-conducthig means engaging therewith, of .a pair of dri ving\;, and driven power-transmittingmembers adapte to be secured to the adjacent ends of inde eride t shafts, a plurality of peripherally isposed lever elements pivoted to one of said members and continuously engaging the other member whereby both the members are adapted to move concurrently in a rotative direction, and having each lever element provided with acircumferentially extending arm in continuous contact With said pressureconducting means.

7. In a torsion-measuringapparatus of the character-described, the combination with a suitably mounted fluid-resisted diaphragm,

power-transmitting members adapted to be secured to the adjacent ends of independent shafts, means for preventing endWise separation of said shafts, a plurality of peripherally {disposed lever elements pivoted to one of said members and continuously engaging the othen n e nber whereby both the members are adapte'dtto move concurrently in a rotative direction, and having each lever element provided with a circumferentially extending arm in continuous contact with said pressure-conducting means.

Signed at Providence, R. 1., this 17th day of December 1908.

- WILLIAM H. KENERSON. Witnesses:

GEO. H. REMINGTQN,

It is hereby certified that m Letter LSEALJ HENRY P. STONE.

9 Patent No. 924,242, granted June-8,'1909,

upon the application of William H. Kenerson, of Providence, Rhode Island, for

an improvement in Torsion-Measuring Apparatus, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 26, page 1, the word of should read 01'; line 126, page 2, and line 56,page 3, the word felly should read fellow; and

in line 112, page 3, after the word imparting the word to should be inserted; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this isth a of July, A. 1)., 1909.

o. c. BILLINGS,

Acting C'mnmiaaioner of Patents.

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 924,242.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No.

upon the application of William H. Kenerson, of

924,242, granted June 8, 1909, Providence, Rhode Island, for an improvement in Torsiou-Measuriug Apparatus, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows; In line 26, page 1, the word 015' should read or; line 126, page 2, and line 56, page 3, the word felly should read fellow,- and in line 112, page 3, after the word imparting the word to should be inserted; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 13th da of July, A. 1)., 1909.

LBEAL] O. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commiam'mer of Patents. 

